After announcing a 100% fee waiver for girl students from the Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC) categories in professional courses earlier this February, the Higher and Technical Education Department of the Maharashtra Government has issued a Government Resolution (GR) to implement the scheme in the 2024-25 academic year.
The Government is launching this scheme to encourage more girls to enroll in higher education. The academic fee waiver is for girls from families with an income of Rs. 8 lakh or less. Under this program, the State will cover the entire tuition and examination fees for these girls. Currently, girl students receive a 50% fee waiver.
According to a study by the Higher and Technical Education Department, the share of girl students in professional education is 36%. Following the New Education Policy (NEP), the Government believes that girl students should not be deprived of education.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil stated that universities should work towards increasing the enrollment of girls in higher education courses across various fields.
The scheme applies to all government-run colleges, government-aided private colleges, partly aided colleges, permanent unaided colleges, polytechnics, public universities, and government deemed universities (private deemed universities and self-financed universities are excluded). Girl students can enroll in recognized professional courses offered at sub-centers of public universities. The scheme is applicable for the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) conducted by the government’s competent authority, excluding seats under management quota and institute-level seats.
The educational aid, costing the state Rs 2,000 crore annually, was part of several welfare programs for women announced by State Finance Minister Ajit Pawar. The program will cover professional courses including medicine, engineering, management, pharmacy, law, etc.
While appreciating the announcement, colleges expressed concerns that the Government should ensure a streamlined reimbursement process. There are numerous issues regarding fee reimbursement for SC, ST, OBC, and NT students in higher education courses. Currently, an amount exceeding Rs 2,000 crore is pending with the Government to be given to colleges in State.